U.S. patent application number 14/287197 was filed with the patent office on 2015-11-19 for printing head module.
This patent application is currently assigned to XYZprinting, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited, Kinpo Electronics, Inc., XYZprinting, Inc.. Invention is credited to Cher-Lek Toh, Wei-De Toh, Clyde Ventolina Cordero, Shy-Huey Yee.
Application Number | 20150328837 14/287197 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54537772 |
Filed Date | 2015-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150328837 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ventolina Cordero; Clyde ;
et al. |
November 19, 2015 |
PRINTING HEAD MODULE
Abstract
A printing head module includes a driving gear, a bi-directional
motor, a first feeding module and a second feeding module. The
bi-directional motor selectively drives the driving gear to rotate
along a first direction and a second direction. The first feeding
module disposed at a first side of the driving gear includes a
first unidirectional gear and a first idler gear. The driving gear
is engaged with the first unidirectional gear, and the first
unidirectional gear unidirectionally drives the first idler gear to
rotate. The second feeding module is disposed at a second side of
the driving gear opposite to the first side, and includes a second
unidirectional gear and a second idler gear, the driving gear is
engaged with the second unidirectional gear to drive the second
unidirectional gear to rotate, and the second unidirectional gear
unidirectionally drive the second idler gear to rotate.
Inventors: |
Ventolina Cordero; Clyde;
(SINGAPORE, SG) ; Toh; Cher-Lek; (SINGAPORE,
SG) ; Toh; Wei-De; (SINGAPORE, SG) ; Yee;
Shy-Huey; (SINGAPORE, SG) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
XYZprinting, Inc.
Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company Limited |
New Taipei City
New Taipei City
New Taipei City |
|
TW
TW
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
XYZprinting, Inc.
New Taipei City
TW
Kinpo Electronics, Inc.
New Taipei City
TW
Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Company
Limited
New Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
54537772 |
Appl. No.: |
14/287197 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
425/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 64/106 20170801;
B29C 64/209 20170801; B29C 64/118 20170801; B29L 2009/00 20130101;
B33Y 30/00 20141201 |
International
Class: |
B29C 67/00 20060101
B29C067/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 16, 2014 |
TW |
103117365 |
Claims
1. A printing head module, adapted to dispense a first modeling
material and a second modeling material layer by layer on a base to
form a three-dimensional (3-D) object, the printing head module
comprising: a driving gear; a first feeding module, disposed at a
first side of the driving gear and comprising a first
unidirectional gear and a first idler gear, the driving gear being
engaged with the first unidirectional gear to drive the first
unidirectional gear to rotate, and the first unidirectional gear
unidirectionally driving the first idler gear to rotate; a second
feeding module, disposed at a second side of the driving gear
opposite to the first side, and comprising a second unidirectional
gear and a second idler gear, the driving gear being engaged with
the second unidirectional gear to drive the second unidirectional
gear to rotate, and the second unidirectional gear unidirectionally
drive the second idler gear to rotate; a bi-directional motor,
connected to the driving gear to selectively drive the driving gear
to rotate along a first direction and a second direction, when the
driving gear is driven to rotate along the first direction, the
first unidirectional gear does not drive the first idler gear to
rotate, and the second unidirectional gear drives the second idler
gear to rotate, so as to collectively drive the second modeling
material to move, when the driving gear is driven to rotate along
the second direction, the first unidirectional gear drives the
first idler gear to rotate, so as to collectively drive the first
modeling material to move, and the second unidirectional gear does
not drive the second idler gear to rotate.
2. The printing head module of claim 1, wherein the first
unidirectional gear comprises a first active gear and a first
passive gear, the first passive gear engages with the first idler
gear, the first active gear comprises a ratchet having a plurality
of teeth, each of the teeth has a curved side and a straight side,
the first passive gear comprises at least a pawl, when the first
active gear is driven to rotate along the first direction, at least
one of the teeth of the ratchet is engaged with the pawl and drives
the first passive gear to rotates with the first active gear, when
the first active gear is driven to rotate along the second
direction, every tooth pushes up and slides under the pawl so the
first passive gear does not rotate along with the first active
gear.
3. The printing head module of claim 1, wherein the second
unidirectional gear comprises a second active gear and a second
passive gear, the second passive gear engages with the second idler
gear, the second active gear comprises a ratchet having a plurality
of teeth, each of the teeth has a curved side and a straight side,
the second passive gear comprises at least a pawl, when the second
active gear is driven to rotate along the second direction, at
least one of the teeth of the ratchet is engaged with the pawl and
drives the second passive gear to rotates with the second active
gear, when the second active gear is driven to rotate along the
first direction, every tooth pushes up and slides under the pawl so
the second passive gear does not rotate along with the second
active gear.
4. The printing head module of claim 1, further comprising: a
housing; and a first pivot arm, comprising a first pivot portion
and a first extension portion, the first pivot portion connected to
the first extension portion and pivoted to the housing, the first
idler gear being disposed on the first pivot arm, wherein the first
extension portion is adapted to bear an external force so the first
pivot arm rotates relative to the housing to drive the first idler
gear moving away from the first unidirectional gear, so as to
reduce a nipping force applied to the first modeling material by
the first unidirectional gear and the first idler gear.
5. The printing head module of claim 4, further comprising: a first
elastic element, connected between the first pivot arm and the
housing, when the first pivot arm rotates relative to the housing,
the first elastic element generating an elastic restoring force, so
the first pivot arm is restored to its original position and the
nipping force is recovered when the external force disappears.
6. The printing head module of claim 1, further comprising: a
housing; and a second pivot arm, comprising a second pivot portion
and a second extension portion, the second pivot portion connected
to the second extension portion and pivoted to the housing, the
second idler gear being disposed on the second pivot arm, wherein
the second extension portion is adapted to bear an external force
so the second pivot arm rotates relative to the housing to drive
the second idler gear moving away from the second unidirectional
gear, so as to reduce a nipping force applied to the second
modeling material by the second unidirectional gear and the second
idler gear.
7. The printing head module of claim 6, further comprising: a
second elastic element, connected between the second pivot arm and
the housing, when the second pivot arm rotates relative to the
housing, the second elastic element generating an elastic restoring
force, so the second pivot arm is restored to its original position
and the nipping force is recovered when the external force
disappears.
8. The printing head module of claim 1, wherein the printing head
module further comprises a printing head, separated from the first
feeding module and the second feeding module, the first feeding
module and the second feeding module are configured to respectively
transmit the first modeling material and the second modeling
material to the printing head for dispensing the first modeling
material and/or the second modeling material layer by layer on the
base to form the 3-D object.
9. The printing head module of claim 8, wherein the printing head
further comprises a first heating nozzle, the first modeling
material is a hot-melt material, the first unidirectional gear and
the first idler gear collectively transmit the first modeling
material to the first heating nozzle, so that the first modeling
material is melted and extruded from the first heating nozzle to be
formed on the base.
10. The printing head module of claim 8, wherein the printing head
further comprises a second heating nozzle, the second modeling
material is a hot-melt material, the second unidirectional gear and
the second idler gear collectively transmit the second modeling
material to the second heating nozzle, so that the second modeling
material is melted and extruded from the second heating nozzle to
be formed on the base.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan
application serial no. 103117365, filed on May 16, 2014. The
entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby
incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this
specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The invention relates to a printing head module, and more
particularly, to a printing head module adapted for a
three-dimensional (3-D) printing apparatus.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] With the advance in computer-aided manufacturing (CAM),
rapid prototyping (RP) has been developed by manufacturing
industries, which can rapidly fabricate original concept designs.
The RP technology may provide geometric shapes with limitations,
and excellence of the RP technology is better demonstrated in more
complex components. Further, manpower and processing time can be
greatly reduced, and designed components on 3-D computer-aided
design (CAD) can be realistically rendered in a short amount of
time. Not only can the components be touched, but the geometric
curves thereof can also be truly appreciated. Moreover, the
assembly ability of the components can be tested, and even
functional tests may be performed thereto.
[0006] A number of RP methods are available, such as fused
deposition modeling (FDM) and laminated object manufacturing (LOM)
and so on.
[0007] However, in most 3-D printing apparatuses that currently use
the RP methods for forming 3-D objects, only one printing head is
provided. As a result, when it is necessary to switch to a
different construction material, the printing head needs to be
ejected first so as to eject the current material, followed by
connecting a desired construction material to the printing head,
and then returning the printing head that completes the replacement
of the material to its original position in order to resume
printing. This is very inconvenient in use. Therefore, the industry
has begun to develop printing head modules equipped with multiple
printing heads. However, this kind of printing head module with
multiple printing heads require multiple corresponding driving
motors for separately driving a feeding gear set of each of the
printing heads, which not only considerably increases the component
complexity of the 3-D printing apparatus but also the production
cost thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention provides a printing head module which utilizes
a single motor for driving a plurality of feeding gear sets to
perform feeding operations individually.
[0009] The printing head module according to the invention is
adapted to apply a first modeling material and a second modeling
material layer by layer onto a base, so as to form a
three-dimensional (3-D) object. The printing head module includes a
driving gear, a bi-directional motor, a first feeding module and a
second feeding module. The first feeding module is disposed at a
first side of the driving gear and includes a first unidirectional
gear and a first idler gear. The first unidirectional gear is
engaged with the driving gear, and the first unidirectional gear
unidirectionally drives the first idler gear to rotate. The second
feeding module is disposed at a second side of the driving gear
opposite to the first side, and includes a second unidirectional
gear and a second idler gear. The driving gear is engaged with the
second unidirectional gear to drive the second unidirectional gear
to rotate, and the second unidirectional gear unidirectionally
drives the second idler gear to rotate. The bi-directional motor is
connected to the driving gear to selectively drive the driving gear
to rotate along a first direction and a second direction. When the
driving gear is driven to rotate along the first direction, the
first unidirectional gear does not drive the first idler gear to
rotate, and the second unidirectional gear drives the second idler
gear to rotate, so the second unidirectional gear and the second
idler gear drive the second modeling material to move. When the
driving gear is driven to rotate along the second direction, the
first unidirectional gear drives the first idler gear to rotate, so
the first unidirectional gear and the first idler gear drive the
first modeling material to move, and the second unidirectional gear
does not drive the second idler gear to rotate.
[0010] Based on the above, the invention utilizes the driving motor
and the driving gear for driving the first and the second
unidirectional gears to perform bi-directional rotation, wherein
the first unidirectional gear is only capable of unidirectionally
driving the first idler gear to rotate, and the second
unidirectional gear is only capable of unidirectionally driving the
second idler gear to rotate. Moreover, the rotating directions of
the driven first idler gear and second idler gear are opposite to
each other. According to such arrangement, by means of a single
driving motor and a single driving gear, the invention is capable
of separately driving two different feeding gear sets for
performing feeding operations, which not only simplifies the
component complexity of the printing head module but also decreases
the production cost thereof.
[0011] To make the above features and advantages of the invention
more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with drawings are
described in detail as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of application of a printing head
module to a 3-D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of
the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a printing head module
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic view of the
printing head module in FIG. 2 in a first driving mode.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged schematic view of the
printing head module in FIG. 2 in a second driving mode.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an active gear and a passive
gear of a unidirectional gear according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the unidirectional gear
in FIG. 5 when the active gear rotating in the second
direction.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the unidirectional gear
in FIG. 5 when the active gear rotating in the first direction.
[0019] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are schematic views of the printing head
module in FIG. 2 in a maintenance mode.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] It is to be understood that both the foregoing and other
detailed descriptions, features, and advantages are intended to be
described more comprehensively by providing embodiments accompanied
with drawings hereinafter. In the following embodiments, wordings
used to indicate directions, such as "up," "down," "front," "back,"
"left," and "right", merely refer to directions in the accompanying
drawings. Therefore, the directional wording is used to illustrate
rather than limit the invention. In addition, in the following
embodiments, the same or like numbers stand for the same or like
elements.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of application of a printing head
module to a 3-D printing apparatus according to an embodiment of
the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a printing head module 100 of
the present embodiment is adapted to be applied to a 3-D printing
apparatus 10. The 3-D printing apparatus 10, for example, prints
out a 3-D object 20 according to a digital 3-D model. The 3-D
printing apparatus 10 includes the printing head module 100 of the
present embodiment and a base 200. As shown in FIG. 1, the base 200
has a carrying surface 210 that is configured to carry a first
modeling material 300 and a second modeling material 400 provided
by the printing head module 100. The printing head module 100 is
arranged to slide back and forth parallel to the carrying surface
210, and the base 200 may, for example, be parallel to and move
relative to the printing head module 100.
[0022] In detail, the 3-D printing apparatus 10 further includes a
control unit coupled to the printing head module 100 for reading
and processing the digital 3-D model. The digital 3-D model may be
a digital 3-D image file constructed by, for example, a computer
main unit by use of computer-aided design (CAD) or animation
modeling software, etc. The control unit controls the printing head
module 100 to move based on the digital 3-D model. During the
moving, the printing head module 100 dispenses the first modeling
material 300 and/or the second modeling material 400 layer by layer
on the base 200, thereby stacking to form the 3-D object 20.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a printing head module
according to an embodiment of the invention. It is to be noted
that, to clearly present the inner structure of the printing head
module 100, a housing 190 of the printing head module 100 in FIG. 2
is illustrated in a perspective manner. Referring to FIG. 2, in the
present embodiment, the printing head module 100 includes a driving
gear 110, a bi-directional motor 120, a first feeding module 130a
and a second feeding module 150a. The bi-directional motor 120 is
connected to the driving gear 110 to selectively drive the driving
gear 110 to rotate along a first direction R1 and a second
direction R2. In the present embodiment, the first direction R1 is
a clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 2, while the second
direction R2 is a counterclockwise direction. Of course, the
present embodiment is merely for exemplary purposes, and the
disclosure is not limited thereto. The first feeding module 130a is
disposed at a first side of the driving gear 110, and the first
feeding module 130a includes a first unidirectional gear 130 and a
first idler gear 140. The second feeding module 150a is disposed at
a second side of the driving gear 110, and the second feeding
module 150a includes a second unidirectional gear 150 and a second
idler gear 160. The first unidirectional gear 130 is engaged with
the driving gear 110 so as to be driven to rotate by the driving
gear 110. The first unidirectional gear 130 unidirectionally drives
the first idler gear 140 to rotate. The second unidirectional gear
150 is engaged with the driving gear 110 so as to be driven to
rotate by the driving gear 110. The second unidirectional gear 150
unidirectionally drives the second idler gear 160 to rotate.
[0024] In the present embodiment, the printing head module 100
further includes a printing head 196 as shown in FIG. 1. The
printing head 196 is separated from the first feeding module 130a
and the second feeding module 150a, but, of course, the present
disclosure is not limited thereto. In other embodiment, the
printing head 196, the first feeding module 130a and the second
feeding module 150a may also be disposed in the housing 190
together. The first feeding module 130a and the second feeding
module 150a are configured to respectively transmit the first
modeling material 300 and the second modeling material 400 to the
printing head 196 for dispensing the first modeling material 300
and/or the second modeling material 400 layer by layer on the base
200 to form the 3-D object 20. In detail, the printing head 196
further includes a first heating nozzle 192 and a second heating
nozzle 194. The first modeling material 300 and the second modeling
material 400 are both hot-melt materials. Accordingly, the first
unidirectional gear 130 and the first idler gear 140 collectively
nip the first modeling material 300 and transmit the first modeling
material 300 to the first heating nozzle 192, so that the first
modeling material 300 is melted and extruded from the first heating
nozzle 192 to be formed on the base 200. Similarly, the second
unidirectional gear 150 and the second idler gear 160 collectively
nip the second modeling material 400 and transmit the second
modeling material 400 to the second heating nozzle 194, so that the
second modeling material 400 is melted and extruded from the second
heating nozzle 194 to be formed on the base 200.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic view of the
printing head module in FIG. 2 in a first driving mode. FIG. 4 is a
partially enlarged schematic view of the printing head module in
FIG. 2 in a second driving mode. In detail, the printing head
module 100 of the present embodiment includes the first driving
mode as shown in FIG. 3, and the second driving mode as shown in
FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 together, when the driving
gear 110 is driven to rotate along the second direction R2, as
shown in FIG. 3, the first unidirectional gear 130 does not drive
the first idler gear 140 to rotate, so as not to drive the first
modeling material 300 to move. Meanwhile, the second unidirectional
gear 150 drives the second idler gear 160 to rotate, and nip the
second modeling material 400 collectively with the second idler
gear 160, so as to drive the second modeling material 400 to move
along a feeding direction D1. When the driving gear 110 is driven
to rotate along the second direction R2, as shown in FIG. 4, the
first unidirectional gear 130 drive the first idler gear 140 to
rotate, and nip the first modeling material 300 together with the
first idler gear 140, so as to collectively drive the first
modeling material 300 to move along the feeding direction D1.
Meanwhile, the second unidirectional gear 150 does not drive the
second idler gear 160 to rotate. Hence, the second idler gear 160
and the second unidirectional gear 150 does not drive the second
modeling material 400 to move.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an active gear and a passive
gear of a unidirectional gear according to an embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the unidirectional
gear in FIG. 5 when the active gear rotating in the second
direction. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the unidirectional
gear in FIG. 5 when the active gear rotating in the first
direction. Referring to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, it is noted that the
unidirectional gear shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 may be the first
unidirectional gear 130 and/or the second unidirectional gear 150.
In the present embodiment, FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 illustrates, for
example, the second unidirectional gear 150 as shown in FIG. 2, but
the disclosure is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment,
the second unidirectional gear 150 includes a second active gear
152 and a second passive gear 154. The second active gear 152 is
engaged with the driving gear 110, and the second passive gear 154
is engaged with the second idler gear 160 as shown in FIG. 2. The
second active gear 152 may includes a ratchet as shown in FIG. 5,
which has a plurality of teeth 152a. Each of the teeth 152a has a
curved side 152b and a straight side 152c. The second passive gear
154 includes at least a pawl 154a. With such arrangement, when the
driving gear 110 drives the second active gear 152 to rotate along
the second direction R2 as shown in FIG. 6, the straight side 152c
of one of the teeth 152c of the second active gear 152 is engaged
with the pawl 154a of the second passive gear 154, so as to drive
the second passive gear 154 to rotate with the second active gear
152. Accordingly, the second active gear 152 and second passive
gear 154 collectively drive the second modeling material 400 to
move along the feeding direction D1 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0027] Likewise, when the driving gear 110 drives the second active
gear 152 to rotate along the first direction R1, the pawl 154a of
the first passive gear 154 passes along the curved side 152b of
each of the teeth 152a of the first active gear 152, so as to
release the engagement with the first passive gear 154. Hence, when
the second active gear 152 is driven by the driving gear 110 to
rotate along the first direction R1, the second passive gear 154
does not rotate with the second active gear 152. Thus, the second
passive gear 154 and the second active gear 152 does not drive the
second modeling material 400 to move as shown in FIG. 4.
[0028] Of course, the embodiments of FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are only for
exemplary purposes. The disclosure does not limit the design of the
second active gear 152 and the second passive gear 154 as well as
the design of the first active gear 132 and the first passive gear
134. As long as the unidirectional gears 130 and 150 are capable of
unidirectionally driving the corresponding idler gears 140 and 160
to rotate, and the rotating directions of the idler gears 140, 160
are opposite to each other, such connection relationship falls
within the scope of protection of the application.
[0029] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are schematic views of the printing head
module in FIG. 2 in a maintenance mode. Referring first to FIG. 8,
in the present embodiment, the printing head module 100 further
includes the housing 190, a first pivot arm 170, a first elastic
element 176, a second pivot arm 180 and a second elastic element
186. The first pivot arm 170 includes a first pivot portion 172 and
a first extension portion 174. The first pivot portion 172 is
connected to the first extension portion 174, and is pivoted to the
housing 190, as shown in FIG. 8. The first elastic element 176 is
connected between the first pivot arm 170 and the housing 190.
Similarly, the second pivot arm 180 includes a second pivot portion
182 and a second extension portion 184. The second pivot portion
182 is connected to the second extension portion 184, and is
pivoted to the housing 190, as shown in FIG. 8. The second elastic
element 186 is connected between the second pivot arm 180 and the
housing 190. The first idler gear 140 is disposed on the first
pivot arm 170, and the second idler gear 160 is disposed on the
second pivot arm 180.
[0030] With to such arrangement, when the printing head module 100
is in a maintenance mode, for example, when a user intends to
replace the first modeling material 300, the user may apply an
external force F1 to the first extension portion 174, so as to
cause the first pivot arm 170 to rotate relative to the housing
190, thereby driving the first idler gear 140 to move away from the
first unidirectional gear 130, and further reducing a nipping force
applied to the first modeling material 300 by the first
unidirectional gear 130 and the first idler gear 140. In this way,
the user may easily remove the first modeling material 300 to
perform maintenance operations such as replacement of the material,
removal of jammed material, etc. Likewise, when intending to
replace the second modeling material 400, the user may apply an
external force F2 to the second extension portion 184, so as to
cause the second pivot arm 180 to rotate relative to the housing
190, thereby driving the second idler gear 160 to move away from
the second unidirectional gear 150, and further reducing a nipping
force applied to the second modeling material 400 by the second
unidirectional gear 150 and the second idler gear 160. In this way,
the user may easily remove the second modeling material 400 to
perform the maintenance operations such as replacement of the
material, removal of jammed material, etc.
[0031] Following the above, referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9
together, when the first extension portion 174 bears the external
force F1 to rotate relative to the housing 190, the first elastic
element 176 connected between the first pivot arm 170 and the
housing 190 generates an elastic restoring force F1'. Accordingly,
after the user removed the first modeling material 300 and released
the first extension portion 174, the external force F1 applied to
the first extension portion 174 disappears, the elastic restoring
force F1' generated by the first elastic element 176 pulls the
first pivot arm 170 to its original position, and the nipping force
applied to the first modeling material 300 by the first
unidirectional gear 130 and the first idler gear 140 is also
recovered. Likewise, when the second extension portion 184 bears
the external force F2 to rotate relative to the housing 190, the
second elastic element 186 connected between the second pivot arm
180 and the housing 190 generates an elastic restoring force F2'.
Accordingly, after the user removed the second modeling material
400 and released the second extension portion 184, the external
force F2 applied to the second extension portion 184 disappears,
the elastic recovery force F2' generated by the second elastic
element 186 pulls the second pivot arm 180 to its original
position, and the nipping force applied to the second modeling
material 400 by the second unidirectional gear 150 and the second
idler gear 160 is also recovered.
[0032] In summary, the invention utilizes a bi-directional driving
motor and a driving gear for driving a first and a second
unidirectional gears to perform bi-directional rotation, wherein
the first unidirectional gear is only capable of unidirectionally
driving a first idler gear to rotate, and the second unidirectional
gear is only capable of unidirectionally driving a second idler
gear to rotate. Moreover, the rotating directions of the driven
first and second idler gears are opposite to each other. According
to such arrangement, by means of the single driving motor and the
single driving gear, the invention is capable of separately driving
two different feeding gear sets for performing feeding operations,
which not only simplifies the component complexity of the printing
head module but also decreases the production cost thereof.
[0033] In addition, the invention further has the idler gear
disposed on a pivot arm, and the pivot arm is adapted to pivot
relative to a housing. Thus, when a user intends to replace a
modeling material, the user may apply an external force to the
pivot arm to cause the pivot arm to pivot relative to the housing.
Accordingly, the idler gear is driven to move away from the
unidirectional gear, so that a holding force of the unidirectional
gear and the idler gear with respect to the modeling material is
reduced. In this way, the user may easily remove the modeling
material to perform the maintenance operations such as replacement
of the material, removal of jammed material, etc. Therefore, the
invention further improves the ease of use and maintenance of the
printing head module.
[0034] Although the invention has been described with reference to
the above embodiments, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill
in the art that modifications to the described embodiments may be
made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention will be defined by the
attached claims and not by the above detailed descriptions.
* * * * *